Polar bears to help assess the condition of Arctic ecosystems

7 August 2018

Specialists from the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution at the Russian Academy of Sciences continue to study polar bears in the Russian Arctic.

Scientists have begun to develop methods that will make it possible to link information on the polar bear population with other components of the Arctic ecosystems, assess their condition and reveal potential threats, said Academician Vyacheslav Rozhnov, director of the institute.

“Our task is to find the link between the state of the Arctic ecosystems and the wellbeing of the animals that may reflect this condition. Polar bears and white whales may serve as indicator species,” he said. “But it is important to select a number of parameters for evaluating the condition of the animals themselves,” said Rozhnov.